Jackal Squad - Arcade Shooting | Game Brain

Jackal Squad - Arcade Shooting Game Cover

About

"Jackal Squad - Arcade Shooting" is a single-player shooter game with ingenious gameplay and stunning graphics. As you control a jackal jeep, your mission is to destroy enemy bases and rescue your comrades in arms, all while to the beat of perfect music. However, be prepared for some grinding. The game's description states that you must control a jackal jeep to destroy enemy bases and rescue your brothers in arms.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Jackal Squad - Arcade Shooting screenshot

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,587 reviews

gameplay37 positive mentions

monetization191 negative mentions

The gameplay is enjoyable and reminiscent of classic arcade games.
There are no forced ads, and players can choose to watch ads for rewards.
The retro graphics and nostalgic feel bring back fond memories of old-school gaming.

The game is heavily pay-to-win, making progression difficult without spending money.
Many players experience bugs where enemies do not die, making certain levels unplayable.
The difficulty spikes significantly after a few levels, leading to frustration and a grindy experience.

monetization
215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
3%
89%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of forced ads and the option to watch ads for rewards. However, a significant number of users express frustration over the overwhelming amount of ads required to progress, often feeling that gameplay is overshadowed by the need to watch ads or make in-game purchases. While some players find the ad system manageable and rewarding, others criticize it as a cash grab that detracts from the overall experience.
- “Brilliant little game, great fun, great controls and practically no ads if you don't want them.”
- “One of the best games, no ads and everything depends on your skills and not how much you can buy with real money.”
- “Great mindless fun and no ads unless you want free upgrade stuff as far as I can tell.”
- “Plain and simple: the game idea is good, and it can be fun for a while... but in the end, it's just another ad farm and people (pay per lose).”
- “You honestly will spend 4 to 5 times more time watching ads than playing the game.”
- “It became clear real fast that the game is a cash grab and you need to watch ads and spend money to complete even the daily tasks.”
gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
33%
5%
Overall, the gameplay is generally well-received, with many players enjoying its simplicity, nostalgic feel, and engaging mechanics. However, some users express frustration with the grindy progression system, frequent ads, and monetization tactics that can detract from the experience. While the game offers fun and addictive gameplay, the balance between enjoyment and in-game purchases remains a point of contention.
- “It's a good free game with game mechanics that make it different enough to not be just another top down aero fighter clone.”
- “I've sunk a bit of time into this game, and honestly the gameplay loop is fun and satisfying.”
- “Love the retro gameplay and audio, very reminiscent of late 80s, early 90s games interspersed with upgrading which makes it more modern, love it.”
- “Opening tutorial interrupts the gameplay every three seconds and it's not even teaching anything except the obvious.”
- “Filled with predatory ads and bait mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is ok, the level design and how upgrades drop is just some bs.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
6%
The graphics of the game are a blend of retro pixel art reminiscent of classic NES titles, particularly "Jackal," and more polished visuals akin to "Metal Slug." While many players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and detail, some feel the graphics are outdated and could benefit from modernization. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia and are generally well-received, though opinions vary on their quality compared to contemporary standards.
- “The graphics are nice with a good amount of detail as well.”
- “Absolutely brilliant little game, fantastic retro art style and excellent music.”
- “Beautiful retro graphics, seems like there are many customizations to be unlocked.”
- “Also, all the graphics are very zoomed in.”
- “Though graphics are not up to date.”
- “Very poor experience; Jackal NES is 100% better than this game with very bad graphics and sounds.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
12%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its retro style and nostalgic quality, often comparing it favorably to classic arcade games. However, some users find the music volume inconsistent and the loops repetitive, suggesting a need for more variety and intensity. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, there are calls for improvements to enhance the gaming experience.
- “Absolutely brilliant little game, fantastic retro art style and excellent music (the survival mode music is brilliant, releasing an extended OST download would be easy money).”
- “Great classic music and gameplay.”
- “I really like this game and the music is really good and nostalgic.”
- “Mediocre music.”
- “The very short music loop is boring.”
- “This is not a game, it's just a loading screen with music.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game's story is described as nostalgic and engaging, reminiscent of classic video games that prioritized narrative and character development. However, players express frustration with mission progression and bugs that hinder gameplay, leading to repetitive quests and a lack of meaningful rewards. Overall, while the story has potential, technical issues and gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience.
- “This game is such a fun reminder of the good days when video games were made with a sense of pride and with a story that actually was a 'story', and it would capture you and make you feel the characters!”
- “Great little shooter game that makes you want to upgrade and progress the missions.”
- “Is this the sequel to that game we used to play in the old days where a chopper drops a jeep squad and our mission is always to rescue soldiers? By rescuing them, we get weapon upgrades and chances of survival?”
- “Repetitive quests, no items drop except from the main quest and chests. The reward of 2x for gold is really not worth it.”
- “Creative pixel-like game with generous rewards and shop, but it only lacks a story.”
- “Had tons of fun playing the game, but after some time the enemies became unkillable, and the missions became impossible to complete.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, particularly in the late stages, which can lead to frustration due to slow progress and the need to watch ads for perks. While some players enjoy the gameplay, many find the repetitive nature of grinding and the reliance on ads to be a detriment, making the experience feel tedious and unfair at times. Overall, the consensus leans towards the game being overly grindy, impacting its overall enjoyment.
- “The problem is I've been grinding and watching ads for a while to build my truck without spending any money.”
- “But it's either watch 30-second ads every 2 minutes or crawl through the game grinding for points.”
- “Too much grinding, bad controls... all in all not fun and not worth the time.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny easter eggs, amusing surprises, and overall comedic tone. Many reviews describe it as a fun and entertaining experience, reminiscent of old-school humor, making it enjoyable without the distraction of ads. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, contributing to its appeal.
- “Funny easter eggs.”
- “Fab fun and funny shooter.”
- “Great game, good foes, funny surprises!”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, users report mixed experiences with stability; while some encounter frequent freezing issues, particularly when loading videos for rewards, others experience no glitches or lag at all. The game is generally enjoyable, but the freezing problem can disrupt gameplay for some players.
- “No glitches from my experience.”
- “No glitches or lag, and the menu is very easy to navigate.”
- “The only problem I have is sometimes when you load a video to get an extra reward, it freezes up on you and you have to reload the game again. Other than that, I absolutely love it.”
- “Gotta say I love the game... aside from the constant bugs you guys have where if you watch a video, the game freezes.”
- “Won't even load the game, gets to 75% and freezes.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, users appreciate the game's graphics and find it addictive, but they express concerns about performance issues during busy moments and the high cost of in-game items, suggesting a need for better optimization and more affordable pricing.
- “The graphics are great, and the performance of the game is impressive. I really like this game; it's so addictive!”
- “The optimization of the graphics enhances the overall experience, making the game visually appealing.”
- “I appreciate how the game runs smoothly, thanks to the effective optimization techniques used.”
- “The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is the performance is a tad poor when a lot is going on. There are almost zero ways of getting better parts, and most packs are obscenely expensive for terrible items.”
- “Need to lower the prices of items in gold and cash, and also need to optimize the graphics.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, noting that the inability to harm soldiers for easy kills adds a layer of depth and moral complexity, enhancing the overall experience. This design choice evokes feelings of empathy and challenges players to engage with the game's narrative on a more profound level.